Caleb Houstan, Moussa Diabate selected in second round of 2022 NBA Draft

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Michigan freshmen Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate were both selected in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday night. Caleb Houstan was selected by the Orlando Magic at No. 32 and Diabate was selected 11 picks later by the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 43.

Houstan will play alongside former Wolverines Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Ignas Brazdeikis in Orlando. He averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds as a freshman and led Michigan with 60 made 3-pointers. The former five-star recruit had a mysterious draft process after turning down an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine but had been mocked in the early first round by most mock drafts leading up to Thursday’s draft.

Diabate averaged 9 points and six rebounds per game and started 26 of 32 games for the Wolverines. He wasn’t mocked in most pre-draft projections and there’s speculation that the Clippers — who were impressed by Diabate’s energy during a June workout, his 21st of the process — plan to sign him to a two-way contract to allow him time to develop.

“He has an unbelievable motor, who’s shown an ability to switch and guard multiple positions,” team president Lawrence Frank said.

Frank said the Clippers see him as a center and power forward but believe his balance and frame could lend himself to guarding wings later in his career.

“He’s a development project,” Frank said.

Nine Big Ten players were selected in the 58-pick draft including three in the top ten, the most draft picks the league has had since the 1990 draft. The list of Big Ten players selected features Keegan Murray (4), Jaden Ivey (5), Johnny Davis (10), Malachi Branham (20), Houstan (32), Max Christie (35), Bryce McGowens (40), EJ Liddell (41) and Diabate (43).

This is the 16th time that Michigan has had multiple players selected in the same draft, which happened most recently in 2021 with Franz Wagner (8th) and Isaiah Livers (42).

Eli Brooks and DeVante’ Jones are both in the market for free agent deals to play in the NBA Summer League, which runs from July 7th through 17th.